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Log of the Demeter[81]
6 July. Varna to Whitby. – We finished taking in cargo, silver sand[82] and boxes of earth. East wind, fresh. Five sailors… two mates, cook, and myself (captain).
11 July. – At dawn entered Bosphorus.[83]
12 July. – Through Dardanelles.[84] At dark passed into Archipelago.
13 July. – Passed Cape Matapan.[85] Crew dissatisfied about something. Seemed scared.
14 July. – Somewhat anxious about crew. Something wrong; crew crossed themselves.[86]
16 July. – One of crew, Petrofsky,[87] is missing. Could not find him. Men say that there was something aboard. Mate gets very impatient; feared some trouble ahead.
17 July. – Yesterday, one of the men, Olgaren,[88] came to my cabin, and in an awestruck told me that he thought there was a strange man aboard the ship. He said he saw a tall, thin man, who was not like any of the crew. That man went along the deck, and disappeared. He followed cautiously, but he found no one, and the hatchways were all closed. He was in a panic of superstitious fear, and I am afraid the panic may spread.
We searched everywhere. There were only the big wooden boxes, there were no odd corners where a man could hide. First mate scowled, but said nothing.
22 July. – Rough weather last three days – no time to be frightened. Passed Gibraltar.[89] All well.
24 July. – Last night another man lost. Like the first, he came off his watch[90] and disappeared. Men all in a panic of fear; ask to have double watch,[91] as they fear to be alone. Mate angry. Fear there will be some trouble.
28 July. – Four days in hell, maelstrom, a tempest. No sleep for any one. Men all worn out.
29 July. – Another tragedy. Second mate disappeared. Thorough search, but found no one. We are now without second mate, and crew in a panic.
30 July. – Last night. We are near England. Weather is fine. Slept soundly;[92] awaked by mate. He said that both man of watch and steersman were missing. Only myself and mate and two hands sailors left.
1 August. – Two days of fog. Mate now demoralized.
2 August, midnight. – Could see nothing in fog. Rushed on deck. No sign of man on watch. One more gone.[93] Lord, help us! Only God can guide us in the fog, which moves with us.
3 August. – I did not find the man at the wheel. After a few seconds he rushed up on deck in his fla
The mate ran up on the deck. “Save me! Save me!” he cried, and then looked round. His horror turned to despair, and in a steady voice he said, “Come with me too, captain, before it is too late. He is there. I know the secret now. The sea will save me from Him!” Before I could say a word, or move forward to seize him, he sprang on the bulwark and deliberately threw himself into the sea. I suppose I know the secret too, now. It was this madman who had killed the men one by one,[96] and now he has followed them himself. God help me! When I get to port! Will that ever be?
4 August. – Still fog, which the sunrise ca
Mina Murray’s Journal
8 August. – Lucy was very restless all night, and I, too, could not sleep. The storm was fearful. Strangely enough, Lucy did not wake; but she got up twice and dressed herself. Fortunately, each time I awoke in time and undressed her without waking her, and got her back to bed. It is a very strange thing, this sleep-walking.
Early in the morning we both got up and went down to the harbour to see if anything had happened in the night. Somehow I was glad that Jonathan was not on the sea last night, but on land. But, oh, is he on land or sea? Where is he, and how? I am getting fearfully anxious about him. If I only knew what to do, and could do anything!
10 August. – The funeral of the poor captain. Lucy came with me. She seemed much upset and was restless and uneasy all the time. Lucy is so sweet and sensitive that she feels influences more acutely than other people do. She was full of pity, and she will dream of this tonight, I am sure. The ship steered into port by a dead man; the captain tied to the wheel with a cross…
Same day, 11 p.m. – Oh, but I am tired! We had a lovely walk. Lucy, after a while, was in good mood. She was really tired, and we intended to go to bed as soon as we could.
Lucy is asleep and breathing softly. She has more colour in her cheeks than usual, and looks, oh, so sweet. I am so happy tonight, because dear Lucy seems better. But I don’t know anything about Jonathan… God bless and keep him.
11 August, 3 a.m. – Diary again. No sleep now, so I may as well write. I am too agitated to sleep. We have had such an adventure, such an agonizing experience. I fell asleep as soon as I had closed my diary…
Suddenly I became awake, and sat up, with a horrible sense of fear upon me, and of some feeling of emptiness around me. The room was dark, so I could not see Lucy’s bed. The bed was empty. I lit a match and found that she was not in the room. The door was shut, but not locked, as I had left it. I feared to wake her mother. I ran downstairs and looked in the sitting-room. Not there! Then I looked in all the other open rooms of the house, with a growing fear in my heart. Finally I came to the hall door and found it open. It was not wide open. The people of the house usually lock the door every night. I took a big, heavy shawl and ran out. The clock was striking one, and there was not a soul in sight.
I ran along the North Terrace, but could see no sign of the white figure which I expected. Then as the cloud passed I could see the ruins of the abbey; the church and the churchyard became gradually visible. There, on the bench, I saw snowy white figure. It seemed to me that something dark stood behind the figure, and bent over it. What it was, whether man or beast, I could not tell; I did not wait to catch another glance, but flew down the steep steps to the pier and along to the bridge, which was the only way to reach the East Cliff. The town seemed dead, for not a soul did I see. I rejoiced that it was so, for I wanted no witness of poor Lucy’s condition. The time and distance seemed endless, and my knees trembled. When I got almost to the top I could see the bench and the white figure, and I was now close enough to distinguish it even through the shadow. There was undoubtedly something, long and black, it was bending over the white figure. I called in fright, “Lucy! Lucy!” and something raised a head, and I saw a white face and red, gleaming eyes. Lucy did not answer, and I ran on to the entrance of the churchyard. As I entered, the church was between me and the bench, and for a minute or so I lost sight of her. When I came in view again the cloud had passed, and I could see Lucy lying on the bench. She was quite alone, and there was not a sign of anybody about.
81
Log of the Demeter – Судовой журнал «Деметры»
82
silver sand – серебристый песок
83
Bosphorus – Босфор (пролив между Европой и Малой Азией, соединяющий Чёрное море с Мраморным).
84
Dardanelles – Дарданеллы (пролив между европейским полуостровом Галлиполи и западной частью Малой Азии)
85
Cape Matapan – мыс Матапан
86
to cross oneself – креститься
87
Petrofsky – Петровский
88
Olgaren – Олгарен
89
Gibraltar – Гибралтар (небольшое государство на юге Пиренейского полуострова)
90
came off his watch – закончил свою вахту
91
to have double watch – нести вахту вдвоём
92
slept soundly – спал крепко
93
One more gone. – Пропал ещё один.
94
in his fla
95
gave It my knife – ударил Его своим ножом
96
one by one – одного за другим